Scott Pilgrim Takes Off
“Let’s party!” – Lucas Lee
Thirteen years have passed since the quirky “Scott Pilgrim vs the World” appeared in cinemas and (in principle) delighted a large number of viewers, and many still call it a small masterpiece.
And then someone got the idea to make an animated version of Scott Pilgrim and Ramona’s adventures. The original cast was assembled, the old creative team was taken as consultants, and visual style was created as amalgam of original comic style and anime.
And so “Scott Pilgrim Takes Off” was created in eight episodes.
And now someone would say “do you really need to watch an animated series when you already watched the film”?
The answer is simple.
Yes. Yes. Oui. Hai. Si.
“Scott Pilgrim Takes Off” has its original story, and is more some hybrid alternative retelling of original story and Marvel’s “What If” series.
There’s one big twist in the plot compared to the film, and that already in the first episode.
Scott Pilgrim didn’t defeat Matthew Patel (first of seven of Ramona’s evil exes), but was defeated, i.e., unlike last time, now only a few coins remained behind him. He was killed. He disappeared.
This event from the first episode’s end completely turns the story with completely different consequences for all participants.
For starters, now the central character is Ramona Flowers who has supernatural premonition Scott isn’t dead, but maybe abducted, and decides to play detective and discover which of her exes had a hand in it.
And the rest of Scott’s crew tries to continue with their lives.
Likewise, there comes drastic change in the “League of Evil Exes.” Matthew Patel will challenge powerful Gideon to a duel for power and wealth, and this will bring unexpected turn in lives of all Ramona Flowers’ exes (and ex-girlfriend).
And as climax of everything, all characters in the series decided to work on (first film, then theater) fictional adaptation of Scott’s life (in translation, what would happen if he defeated Matthew Patel… in translation, they want to make a work like the original film was).
And meanwhile, Ramona alone actively searches for Scott and tries to collect various clues and information from all people in Scott’s life, as well as her exes… somewhat through dialogues, and somewhat through beatings.
Lovers of original “Scott Pilgrim vs the World,” retro video games (especially beat ’em up genre) and the 90s, “Scott Pilgrim Takes Off” will fit like a slap to a fool.
Visually, the series is a real bombshell! The visual style of the strip creator about Scott Pilgrim’s adventures is composed into anime approach, into which (especially in fight scenes) elements of 2D retro video games from fighting genre are also inserted and it’s a pleasure to watch.
The music is also great (from American and Canadian to Japanese rock bands), and for me definitely the star is “Mortal Kombat” parody.
Putting Scott Pilgrim in the background led to some very good (and correct) moves.
For starters, Ramona Flowers got completely different dimension. If you remember, in the film she seemed somehow two-dimensional and detached from world. Here she’s given much more human element. She’s more emotional, empathetic, communicative and down-to-earth in relationships with others (including her exes), which now makes her a very likeable character and excellent main heroine (who now dyes hair for each episode into different color).
Besides her, the series will definitely be stolen by Ramona’s evil exes (and ex-girlfriend, let’s not forget), whom we’ll have the chance to see in different light (and with quite solid screen time unlike the film). So we’ll see Matthew Patel’s ambition, Lucas Lee’s vulnerable and empathetic side, lost Gideon Graves, more mature Roxy, Todd Ingram in love (with someone unexpected), as well as unusual project by Katayanagi twins (who’ll play important role in the series).
More screen time (and role) will also get some characters who were quite on the margin in the film, like grumpy and foul-mouthed Julie, charismatic Wallace and Young Neil.
Worth mentioning also the cast, i.e., people who lent voices to heroes of “Scott Pilgrim Takes Off.” Except actors who in original film played Katayanagi twins, complete original cast got involved in working on this series! Michael Cera as Scott Pilgrim is still silly, Mary Elizabeth Winstead now shined even more as Ramona Flowers, and immediately following her is excellent Kieran Culkin (Wallace), brilliant Chris Evans (Lucas Lee), quirky Brandon Routh (Todd Ingram), and still hilarious Satya Bhabha (Matthew Patel), and still grumpy Aubrey Plaza (Julie), as well as talented Jason Schwartzman (Gideon). Compliments definitely deserve Johnny Simmons (Neil) and Ellen Wong (Knives) too.
Though someone would define this series as classic anime and by automatism switch to Japanese voices (i.e., actors), this is one of rare exceptions where you absolutely should listen how it was originally intended, with cast from film.
Somehow, while watching “Scott Pilgrim Takes Off,” like the original film, you see these are projects created (at least I think) from love and desire, as well as that people who worked on the film had a lot of fun, which, I believe, especially applies to actors who today (compared to period when they filmed the film) are now big (but really big) film stars earning huge money, but still agreed to dedicate time to “Scott Pilgrim Takes Off” project.
By the way, I forgot to mention one more very interesting detail for “Scott Pilgrim” project in the original review. Namely, during (official) coronavirus period, on tenth anniversary of original film “Scott Pilgrim vs The World,” (almost) entire complete cast assembled online and did “reading” of complete film (table read), then uploaded to Youtube! Enough to say that for just over three years the video has had over three million views so far!
Not at all revolutionary anyway, “Scott Pilgrim Takes Off” ended up being a very fun and likeable title. It’s very easy to follow and somehow relaxing, and for lovers of original film, anime, good music and retro video games it’s a must see.
Dear reader, have you had the chance to watch the original film (or at least read the review here)? 🙂
Trailer | Imdb | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic
Release Date: 2023 | Format: Series | Number of seasons: 1 (eight episodes) | Average episode duration: 25 minutes
